ANALYSIS OF FLUORIDE, ACETATE AND FORMATE IN BAYER LIQUORS BY ION CHROMATOGRAPHY

Fluoride, acetate and formate in Bayer liquors have been separated on an AS5A column by suppressed ion chromatography using a very weak sodi um hydroxide eluent before a rapid change in the eluent composition wa s required to elute the remaining liquor components. Fluoride data for four liquor samples analysed by ion chromatography with conductivity detection correlated well with potentiometric data obtained by a fluor ide ion-selective electrode. Acetate and formate were analysed by cond uctivity and spectrophotometric detection and reasonable agreement was achieved.